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Towing and returning
My first thought when I saw the Mink-E round a corner was “tiny”. Teardrop campers are compact to begin with, but this fully electric teardrop (previous models were diesel heated) is cute enough to deserve some loving care. The advantages of its size and weight (just 510kg) are clear: it can be towed by most electric cars, and can be steered off and on by hand (which is a blessing for someone like me who finds towing a trailer and reversing is a severe test of agility).
The Mink series was designed and manufactured in Iceland for the tourist rental market, and the popularity of its shape (especially its panoramic skylight) has led to it being sold across Europe. In theory, it can sleep a family of three if the kids are small enough. There’s a queen-size mattress front and back, and a bunk bed from left to right above the adults’ feet (which doubles as storage space). Tall people might not be confident in their size, but former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff (who is quite large himself) tested an older non-motorized version. Top GearA spokesperson for Mink said he liked the house so much he bought it himself, and that an awning or canopy could be added over the rear kitchen area to add more living space.
The camper’s USB and 12V sockets are powered by two 70Ah batteries, which can be charged whilst driving via a 13-pin cable or on-site via a roof-mounted solar panel. In summer, an airflow system keeps the cabin cool whilst driving, and a combination of passive ventilation and electric fans regulates the temperature whilst you sleep. In cold weather, the Mink-E insulation does most of the work. There is a heater, but it is necessarily power-hungry and requires mains power (or your car’s V2L) to operate. Drink holders in the wheel arches are just one example of the fantastic attention to detail. Mink-E Teardrop Camper, £25,320
Listen to the birds
If you’re a bird lover, you may already be familiar with Birdnet, a great (and free) app that recognizes bird calls and identifies species. However, the app only actually works when you’re looking at your phone, which isn’t always ideal. California engineer Tim Clark has solved this problem with a compact stereo audio recorder that has environmental sensors that work in conjunction with Birdnet.
You can take it on a hike and later the app will give you a map of where you’ve walked, plus all the bird call data. It clips neatly to your backpack and is incredibly sturdy: “One fell off a cliff into the Rio Grande, and it was working perfectly when we retrieved it,” Clark says. Bird Weather PUC, $249
Must see
Late last year, Polar launched the well-received Vantage V3 sports watch. The Grit X2 Pro is essentially the same watch inside, but with an exterior made from hardened steel, or in the case of the Titan version, “aerospace” titanium. Unlike many of the giants in the ultra-durability watch market, this watch comes with two straps (black silicone or brown leather) and has a very legible design. As expected, it measures a range of health metrics and works with services like Strava, MyFitnessPal, Adidas Running, and Apple Health. It has great navigation and step tracking, and it also has preloaded maps that aren’t dependent on data coverage. Polar Grit X2 Pro Titan, £749
True Hero
Panasonic has been a trusted brand for rugged, nearly invincible laptops and tablets for almost 30 years (they even supply the U.S. military). Their latest model, the Toughbook 33, may not be cutting edge in terms of processing power (it uses 12th generation Intel chips), but its magnesium alloy chassis is built to withstand dusty environments, water jets, rapid temperature changes (say, from 20°C indoors to -29°C outdoors), and hard knocks from a variety of angles. At first, it feels counterintuitive to casually toss a laptop into the trunk of your car, but after a few days you’ll be treating it more like a hammer drill than an IT device. Panasonic Toughbook 33 Mk3, from £2,909
All set
The first product from the Danish company Sitpak was a one-legged chair, a truly single-purpose product. In contrast to this is the ultimate outdoor multi-tool in the form of a carabiner hook (although it is not certified for climbing). The body is made of titanium (“aluminum is too light, steel is too heavy, and the matte finish is hard to achieve with other metals,” says Sitpak founder Jonas Lind Bendiksen). The interchangeable knife attachment and multi-purpose bit holder make it extremely flexible to use. It is an incredible tool that can open bottles, open jars, tighten nuts, drive screws, pull nails, strip wire, etc. It also has two glow-in-the-dark plates, so it is hard to lose. Sit Pack Octo Max 20-in-1 Carabiner, 97 pounds
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